Restoring architectural elegance and tradition

Classic candelabra, clear brushed-nickel fixture add oomph

Before: The owners removed a monstrous cedar that was smothering the house and yard. After: Thicker post, moldings and ramps stained in opaque charcoal will immediately frame and showcase the entrance.

Photograph by: Handout photo / Suzanne Rowe
, The Gazette

This urban home with a captivating past was recently purchased by our homeowners, who had an inspired vision and a lot of courage.

They started by removing a monstrous giant cedar that was smothering the entire facade. They replaced all of the windows and doors. They installed a French drain, restored the electricity and changed most of the plumbing. In the basement, a very thin cement floor was substituted with a thicker one.

Walls covered with fungus were torn down and the rest of the demolition was tackled with determination.

In their words, the owners were justifiably ''running out of steam'' when it came to the exterior design.

This home had previously been lived in by the same man who recently passed at the age of 96. His mother had advised him that the house would be his with two requirements. These were that no woman could be brought in and that he would never marry.

While renovating, the current owner discovered rolled up letters written by a woman. They were hidden in the cold room. They also found old newspapers from the Second World War era that was used for insulation.

Back to the present. The choice of the windows made by the current residents is absolutely perfect. The style is respectful of the time period while integrating a contemporary feel with the simplicity of the design and the newer dark grey colour. Traditional with a twist.

The unfortunate skimpy metal columns and ramps look weak for the imposing brick wall. Thicker posts, moldings and ramps stained in opaque charcoal will immediately frame and showcase the entry. It also will provide an elegant and timeless structure.

The architectural details on top near the main roof and the two wooden doors also will adopt the same dark grey.

The underside of the top balcony, the stairs and the floors could be painted a medium grey in the same palette. A classic hanging candelabra above the entry porch and a clear brushed-nickel light fixture on the second level could add an extra oomph.

Under the two lower windows, a pair of deep made-tomeasure flower boxes would accommodate drought-resilient, white cascading annuals. A new pathway as large as the width of the stairs could show off a few whimsical squares of mosslike ground cover in the centre.

The shape of the new flower bed is an inverse semicircle is inspired by the contour of the tower. The owners had an inclination toward an English garden influence. They liked delphiniums, geraniums and lavender. Because of the winter spraying of salt, the lavender couldn't tolerate a saline environment. For this small size lot, I propose perennials with shades of purple, pink and white blooms.

On the right side of the path, white carnations would be planted in a zigzag pattern all the way to the street. An introduction of a flowering ground cover could spread and fill up the larger rounded area. A material divider of some kind will be imperative to limit the mixing of the silver lamium with the green sedum. Now, I wonder if the mother of the previous owner would approve of the new presence of women in this home?

Vegetation (from left to right):

- Potentilla Fructicosa Abbotswood (shrubs, hedges on both sides)

- Arenaria (yellow green perennial, insertions in walkway)

- Topiaries (two, any type on stem, white or pink blooms)

- Delphinium X Hybryda (three to seven perennials, near wall)

- Polemonium Caeruleum Brise d'Anjou (three variegated perennials)

- Salvia X Superba (peren-nial, purple blooms)

- Dianthus Plumarius (per-ennials, white blooms, zigzag hedge)

- Pelargonium X Peltatum (annuals, white, flower boxes)

- Geranium Sanguineum (3 perennials, pink blooms)

- Lamium (perennials, silver ground cover, white blooms)

- Sedum Spurium (peren-nials, ground cover, pink blooms)

HOUSEWARMING: Most homes can use a little help when it comes to warming up their curb appeal. If you'd like some inexpensive ideas on how to improve the appearance of your home, send a clear photo of your house with your commentary to: Suzanne Rowe, Designer, suro@bell.net. Because of the volume of email she receives, it is not possible for her to individually reply to each correspondent.

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Before: The owners removed a monstrous cedar that was smothering the house and yard. After: Thicker post, moldings and ramps stained in opaque charcoal will immediately frame and showcase the entrance.

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